Rectal immunization with antigen-containing microspheres induces stronger Th2 responses than oral immunization: a new method for vaccination

• Published in: Vaccine Vol. 20; no. 3; pp. 377 - 384
• Main Authors: Nakase, Hiroshi, Okazaki, Kazuichi, Tabata, Yasuhiko, Uchida, Kazushige, Uose, Suguru, Ohana, Masaya, Nishi, Toshiki, Watanabe, Tomohiro, Matsuura, Minoru, Hisatsune, Hiroshi, Matsumura, Kazuyoshi, Itoh, Toshiyuki, Kawanami, Chiharu, Chiba, Tsutomu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 12.11.2001; Elsevier
• Subjects: Administration, Oral; Administration, Rectal; Animals; Antibody Formation; Biological and medical sciences; CD4 antigen; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology; Cytokines - genetics; Epidemiology. Vaccinations; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Immunoglobulin A, Secretory - biosynthesis; Infectious diseases; Medical sciences; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Microbiology; Microspheres; Ovalbumin - administration & dosage; Ovalbumin - immunology; Rectal immunization; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; Th2 Cells - immunology; Th2-type response; Vaccination - methods; Vaccines - administration & dosage; Vaccines, antisera, therapeutical immunoglobulins and monoclonal antibodies; Virology; Microspheres; Th2-type response; Rectal immunization; Antigen; Immunization; Th2 lymphocyte; Vaccination; T-Lymphocyte
• ISSN: 0264-410X; 1873-2518
• DOI: 10.1016/S0264-410X(01)00360-7

The rectum as an effective site for induction of systemic and local immunity has received little attention. Rectal immunization with microspheres-containing ovalbumin (MS-OVA) was tested for its ability to elicit systemic and mucosal immune responses. Rectal immunization with MS-OVA enhanced both Th2 dominant OVA-specific IgG levels in the serum and OVA-specific IgA levels in fecal extracts more prominently than did oral immunization. Cytokine analysis of CD4 + T cells indicated a predominant induction of Th2-type responses compared to Th1-type responses following rectal immunization compared to oral immunization. These results demonstrate that rectal immunization with microspheres could be an effective new vaccination method.